Love Lies Bleeding (Minor Spoilers)(2024)

 

**This post contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- Working as the manager at a local gym in New Mexico, Lou (Kristen Stewart) meets Jackie (Katy O’Brian), an aspiring bodybuilder. Lou finds happiness with Jackie during a rocky romantic relationship, but the sudden appearance of FBI agent O’Riley (Orion C. Carrington) disrupts Lou’s quiet lifestyle. Lou struggles to juggle murder, dead bodies, and tumultuous relationships with her father, Lou Sr. (Ed Harris), her sister Beth (Jena Malone), her husband, JJ (Dave Franco), and a kooky woman named Daisy (Anna Baryshinkov).

My Thoughts- Kristen Stewart believably plays a quirky and awkward young woman, who’s dealing with a lot. You can tell she wants to distance herself from her family, but she loves Beth too much to ignore her abusive relationship with JJ. Stewart also brings an emotional side to Lou. The weight of working a dead end job in a small and hopeless town is clearly crushing Lou’s spirit. But Lou is still willing to help others, while she navigates a lot of tricky paths in her own life. The big test? Lou has to choose between her family, standing up to her father, and her relationship with Jackie. 

Jackie appears, and we’re not exactly sure what’s going on with her. Is she just a drifter and a shameless opportunist? Does she actually love Jackie? All the questions surrounding Jackie are definitively answered as the story progresses. Jackie is tough, she’s strong, and she doesn’t put up with bullshit. But you can also see someone, who’s hurting inside, because Jackie has a few vulnerable and emotional moments.

Katy O’Brian does an excellent job of portraying Jackie. She starts out as this happy and positive lady, who’s determined to chase her dreams. But she gets sucked into a whirlwind of chaos, as she struggles to hold herself together before she completely cracks. 

Jackie and Lou together? Well, there’s no denying it’s a toxic relationship. Jackie ran away from her hometown, chasing a new life. Lou is miserable. She hates her father, she misses her mother, and Lou knows there’s a low ceiling for her future, if she doesn’t leave New Mexico.

It’s love at first sight, when Jackie walks into the gym, but things go downhill quickly, when Lou gives Jackie steroids. Jackie quickly spirals out of control, but Lou NEVER gives up on her. The romance between Lou and Jackie is truly one of Love Lies Bleeding’s greatest strengths, filled with turbulent ups and downs. And kudos to Katy O’Brian for shifting gears to a more frazzled and angry version of Jackie during the ‘roid rage fits.

Ed Harris does it again with another good performance. Lou Sr. is a mean and crusty old bastard, a devious manipulator, who won’t stop until he gets what he wants. On top of all that, Lou Sr. is oddly fascinated with bugs. Harris plays a powerful man, but it’s hard to ignore the truth: Lou Sr. is a relic of the past. He’s an old man, who’s desperately clinging on to the power of being a big fish in a small pond, because without his status as a scary big shot, his life is empty. It’s kind of sad and pathetic, when you step back and look at the big picture.

Hats off to Dave Franco for his performance. JJ is scum. He’s a cheater, he beats his wife, and JJ is a sniveling coward. Franco does a fantastic job with JJ’s body language, his demeanor, and some good facial expressions. You can take one look at JJ, and you’ll instantly know this guy is a bad dude, with a cold and nasty mean streak.

It’s almost impossible to not feel any sympathy for Jena Malone’s Beth, a caring mother and a dedicated wife. She takes care of everything around the house, but she’s married to a monster. They don’t actually show JJ beating Beth, but the aftermath is equally horrifying. The scars, the bumps, the bruises, and Beth lying in a hospital bed with that huge knot on her face is an unpleasant sight. Also, the dinner date scene with JJ, Beth, Lou, and Jackie is genuinely uncomfortable to watch. You can feel the awkward tension at the table, and the situation reaches a boiling point, when JJ overreacts after Beth accidentally drops food on his lap.

Anna Baryshinkov could’ve stole the show here with more screen time. Daisy is a nutty and obsessive stalker. The lovey-dovey feelings she has for Lou are not reciprocated. She loves Lou, she’s willing to do anything to have a relationship with her, but Lou can’t stand Daisy. The mere sight of Daisy annoys Lou to the point, where it’s easy to believe she disgusts Lou. To top it off, Daisy’s story has an unfortunate ending before the credits start rolling.

Rose Glass’ work behind the camera is just phenomenal. Love Lies Bleeding looks and feels like a hypnotic fever dream. So many shots with great details, and the small New Mexico town is a perfect setting for this one. Lou’s hometown is a desolate and quiet hellhole out in the middle of nowhere. It’s a dreary and depressing place that kills any hopes and dreams. Escape is the only way to make it, because it’s a town that’s populated by too many people, who are stubbornly stuck in their own ways, and the bad guys hold too much power.

I’m also glad they didn’t lean into 80’s nostalgia too much. It’s a more subtle approach with the wardrobes, the hairstyles, the cars, and the phones. I can clearly see the movie is set in the 80’s, without constant in-your-face reminders in every scene, or every other scene. That’s enough for me.

Love Lies Bleeding fires on all cylinders. It works as a crime drama, it works as a thriller, and there’s some good black humor during the final moments of the movie. The overall cast is excellent. Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian share great chemistry as two people, who are willing to do anything for each other, no matter how risky the consequences are after the smoke clears. 

A bloody and strange fairy tale filled with violence and some gruesome gore, Love Lies Bleeding lives up to its title by delivering a wild and chaotic love story. Lots of bumpy ups and downs for Lou and Jackie, setbacks that should’ve marked the point of no return for both women. 

Going with the happy ending was the right move. Why? Because after all the bloodshed, the betrayals, and dealing with messy family drama, it’s safe to say Lou and Jackie truly earned their freedom from Lou Sr., a man who’s clearly hell-bent on being a tyrant and a nasty control freak. And there’s always a chance Jackie will get another shot at entering a different bodybuilding competition! 

Rating- 9/10

Love Lies Bleeding (2024)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- Working as the manager at a local gym in New Mexico, Lou (Kristen Stewart) meets Jackie (Katy O’Brian), an aspiring bodybuilder. Lou finds happiness with Jackie during a rocky romantic relationship, but the sudden appearance of FBI agent O’Riley (Orion C. Carrington) disrupts Lou’s quiet lifestyle. Lou struggles to juggle murder, dead bodies, and tumultuous relationships with her father, Lou Sr. (Ed Harris), her sister Beth (Jena Malone), her husband, JJ (Dave Franco), and a kooky woman named Daisy (Anna Baryshinkov).

My Thoughts- Kristen Stewart believably plays a quirky and awkward young woman, who’s dealing with a lot. You can tell she wants to distance herself from her family, but she loves Beth too much to ignore her abusive relationship with JJ. Stewart also brings an emotional side to Lou. The weight of working a dead end job in a small and hopeless town is clearly crushing Lou’s spirit. But Lou is still willing to help others, while she navigates a lot of tricky paths in her own life. The big test? Lou has to choose between her family, standing up to her father, and her relationship with Jackie. 

Jackie appears, and we’re not exactly sure what’s going on with her. Is she just a drifter and a shameless opportunist? Does she actually love Jackie? All the questions surrounding Jackie are definitively answered as the story progresses. Jackie is tough, she’s strong, and she doesn’t put up with bullshit. But you can also see someone, who’s hurting inside, because Jackie has a few vulnerable and emotional moments.

Katy O’Brian does an excellent job of portraying Jackie. She starts out as this happy and positive lady, who’s determined to chase her dreams. But she gets sucked into a whirlwind of chaos, as she struggles to hold herself together before she completely cracks. 

Jackie and Lou together? Well, there’s no denying it’s a toxic relationship. Jackie ran away from her hometown, chasing a new life. Lou is miserable. She hates her father, she misses her mother, and Lou knows there’s a low ceiling for her future, if she doesn’t leave New Mexico.

It’s love at first sight, when Jackie walks into the gym, but things go downhill quickly, when Lou gives Jackie steroids. Jackie quickly spirals out of control, but Lou NEVER gives up on her. The romance between Lou and Jackie is truly one of Love Lies Bleeding’s greatest strengths, filled with turbulent ups and downs. And kudos to Katy O’Brian for shifting gears to a more frazzled and angry version of Jackie during the ‘roid rage fits.

Ed Harris does it again with another good performance. Lou Sr. is a mean and crusty old bastard, a devious manipulator, who won’t stop until he gets what he wants. On top of all that, Lou Sr. is oddly fascinated with bugs. Harris plays a powerful man, but it’s hard to ignore the truth: Lou Sr. is a relic of the past. He’s an old man, who’s desperately clinging on to the power of being a big fish in a small pond, because without his status as a scary big shot, his life is empty. It’s kind of sad and pathetic, when you step back and look at the big picture.

Hats off to Dave Franco for his performance. JJ is scum. He’s a cheater, he beats his wife, JJ is a sniveling coward, AND it’s revealed he’s an informant for the FBI. Franco does a fantastic job with JJ’s body language, his demeanor, and some good facial expressions. You can take one look at JJ, and you’ll instantly know this guy is a bad dude, with a cold and nasty mean streak.

It’s almost impossible to not feel any sympathy for Jena Malone’s Beth, a caring mother and a dedicated wife. She takes care of everything around the house, but she’s married to a monster. They don’t actually show JJ beating Beth, but the aftermath is equally horrifying. The scars, the bumps, the bruises, and Beth lying in a hospital bed with that huge knot on her face is an unpleasant sight. Also, the dinner date scene with JJ, Beth, Lou, and Jackie is genuinely uncomfortable to watch. You can feel the awkward tension at the table, and the situation reaches a boiling point, when JJ overreacts after Beth accidentally drops food on his lap.

Anna Baryshinkov could’ve stole the show here with more screen time. Daisy is a nutty and obsessive stalker. The lovey-dovey feelings she has for Lou are not reciprocated. She loves Lou, she’s willing to do anything to have a relationship with her, but Lou can’t stand Daisy. The mere sight of Daisy annoys Lou to the point, where it’s easy to believe she disgusts Lou. To top it off, Daisy’s story has an unfortunate ending before the credits start rolling.

Jackie, as a GIANT, pulverizes Lou Sr.! It’s a bizarre ending. Yes, Lou Sr. got what he deserved, and I’m glad Lou didn’t pull the trigger. She obviously wanted her father to rot in prison, because killing him would’ve been too easy. A small part of me was hoping for a more serious tone during Lou Sr.’s beat down. Lou Sr. was truly an evil man. He deserved to suffer, but Giant Jackie playing around with Lou Sr., while Lou watches with a smile on her face crossed the line for being too silly for me. 

Although, I guess you have to look at the ending through Lou’s eyes. She deeply loves Jackie, and it’s obvious Lou admires her. For Lou, Jackie is someone, who’s larger than life itself, so it makes sense that she sees Jackie as a giant, who’s beating the crap out of her father, a man, who’s directly responsible for a lot of heartache in Lou’s life. 

To add to that, I have to believe steroids played a big part in Jackie’s hallucinogenic transformations. Going back to the scene, where Jackie brutally murders JJ, you’ll notice Jackie is taller, towering over JJ’s mangled corpse.

Rose Glass’ work behind the camera is just phenomenal. Love Lies Bleeding looks and feels like a hypnotic fever dream. So many shots with great details, and the small New Mexico town is a perfect setting for this one. Lou’s hometown is a desolate and quiet hellhole out in the middle of nowhere. It’s a dreary and depressing place that kills any hopes and dreams. Escape is the only way to make it, because it’s a town that’s populated by too many people, who are stubbornly stuck in their own ways, and the bad guys hold too much power.

I’m also glad they didn’t lean into 80’s nostalgia too much. It’s a more subtle approach with the wardrobes, the hairstyles, the cars, and the phones. I can clearly see the movie is set in the 80’s, without constant in-your-face reminders in every scene, or every other scene. That’s enough for me.

Love Lies Bleeding fires on all cylinders. It works as a crime drama, it works as a thriller, and there’s some good black humor during the final moments of the movie. The overall cast is excellent. Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian share great chemistry as two people, who are willing to do anything for each other, no matter how risky the consequences are after the smoke clears. 

A bloody and strange fairy tale filled with violence and some gruesome gore, Love Lies Bleeding lives up to its title by delivering a wild and chaotic love story. Lots of bumpy ups and downs for Lou and Jackie, setbacks that should’ve marked the point of no return for both women. 

Going with the happy ending was the right move. Why? Because after all the bloodshed, the betrayals, and dealing with messy family drama, it’s safe to say Lou and Jackie truly earned their freedom from Lou Sr., a man who’s clearly hell-bent on being a tyrant and a nasty control freak. And there’s always a chance Jackie will get another shot at entering a different bodybuilding competition! 

Rating- 9/10

Coming Attractions- Fly Me To The Moon (2024)

 

Director- Greg Berlanti

Cast- Channing Tatum, Scarlett Johansson, Woddy Harrelson, Joe Chrest, Ray Romano, Will Jacobs, Jim Rash, Noah Robbins, Colin Woodell, Anna Garcia, Nick Dillenburg, Eva Pilar, Ashley Kings, Chad Crowe, Donald Elise Watkins, Art Newkirk, Jonathan Orea Lopez, Melissa Litow, Christian Zuber, Lauren Revard

Release Date- July 12, 2024

I’m usually not a big fan of romantic comedies. The vast majority of mainstream romantic comedies follow a predictable pattern, and no matter what happens, it’s not hard to predict there’s a good chance Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson will end up together. Woody Harrelson is always capable of delivering a show stealing performance, but there’s also no denying that Scarlett Johansson looks great here, a perfect fit for her character. 

Fly Me To The Moon has high stakes. Pulling off a successful moon landing is a big deal, and the1960’s setting feels genuinely nostalgic. 

Bones And All (2022)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- A young Maren (Taylor Russell) flees Virginia with her father, Frank (Andre Holland) after she tries to eat a friend’s finger at a slumber party. Frank, feeling the pressure of constantly covering up Maren’s cannibalistic attacks, eventually abandons his daughter. 

Maren meets another cannibal named Sully (Mark Rylance) during her journey. Sully, offering his help and guidance, informs Maren that she is an eater, and the urge to feed on human flesh is too strong to ignore, a problem that’ll only get worse as Maren ages. 

Maren crosses paths with Lee (Timothee Chalamet), another young eater, who agrees to help Maren find her estranged mother, Janelle (Chloe Sevingy). Maren and Lee develop feelings for each other, but Maren runs into trouble, when Sully returns with hopes of rekindling their partnership.

My Thoughts- Taylor Russell delivers an excellent performance, bringing the necessary vulnerability to Maren. There’s a noticeable layer of innocence to Maren’s character, but it’s also hard to ignore the fact that she’s willfully ignorant about the lifestyle of a cannibal. Russell did a good job of showing frustration and anger, because after all the eating and the deaths, Maren slowly realizes there’s no real moral high ground to stand on, when you’re attacking and killing innocent people. 

Timothee Chalamet plays the edgy bad boy loner type, but he’s also a kid, who’s hurting inside, a broken young man. Choosing the path of a self imposed exile from his family, Lee wants to reconnect and bond with his sister, Kayla (Anna Cobb), but he’s carrying around the heavy burden of being an eater and killing his father. Chalamet nails a wide variety of emotions with a good performance. Lee is dangerous, but he can also be endearing and charismatic.

Taylor Russell and Timothee Chalamet share believable chemistry together. Maren and Lee are two people, who need each other, sharing a dark secret and a highly unusual lifestyle that only both of them can truly understand. Lee and Maren’s relationship feels real. A lot of ups and downs, with Maren slowly trusting Lee to the point, where she feels safe enough to lower her guard.

Mark Rylance is phenomenal as Sully, easily delivering the best performance here. Rylance brings a charming  presence to Sully, complete with a soft southern accent. But there’s also a dangerous side to Sully, and there’s no denying he’s extremely creepy. 

Rylance smoothly switches gears between the seemingly wise and helpful old man and a menacing threat. Sully wants to be the mentor and father figure that Maren needs. You’re isolated and alone in the world as an eater, so that’s why Sully was heartbroken, when Maren ran away from him after they ate the old lady. Great facial expressions from Rylance. The scene where a frozen and shocked Sully watches Maren leave on the bus with that devastated look on his face is just perfect. 

Loneliness, abandonment, and how it affects people plays a big role in Bones And All. Frank was put in a tough spot, but you can understand why he left Maren. Still, it’s rough for a teenage girl to go out in the world alone after her father leaves without a warning, or any real preparations for survival. To make matters worse, Barbara (Jessica Harper), Maren’s adoptive grandmother, insists she honors her promise to never visit her again.

Sully is old. Living so many years alone with a secretive lifestyle will inevitably take its toll on anyone. That’s why Sully lashed out, when Maren sternly rejected his friendship. And it’s clear Sully was depressed about his family choosing not to look for him after he ran away as a child. 

A lot of important details to pay attention to, as Sully and Maren are eating the old lady. You’ll see a bunch of pictures telling the story of a woman, who once had a family and friends. Imagine dying alone in that big house, while two strangers literally eat what’s left of you, leaving your mangled corpse on the ground surrounded by flies. That’s a depressing ending for anyone. 

Maren has a rocky transition into adulthood, because she’s quickly forced to learn lessons about life on the fly. Maren runs away from Sully, and she runs away from Lee, when she panics for different reasons. Eventually, Maren realizes she can’t just run away from all of her problems. Confrontations and reconciling are cornerstones for adult life. Maren’s no longer in a position, where she can hide behind her father, while he takes care of everything. 

Two big moments for Maren, starting with telling Sully that she no longer wants to be around him, and patching things up with Lee at the lake. Standing up for yourself and burying the hatchet takes guts. It’s uncomfortable, and Taylor Russell did a good job of showing how nervous Maren was with Sully, while also realizing shutting him out of her life was something that needed to be done.

She starts her journey into the world alone, only to wind up alone after killing Sully with Lee’s help. The timing of Sully’s attack was impeccable. Maren and Lee are living a normal and peaceful life together, but it’s all ripped away from them in an instant. It’s an unfortunate ending, with Maren eating a dying Lee. If anyone was going to eat Lee, he’d obviously choose Maren to do it, someone who cared about and understood him. 

There’s also a callback to Jake’s (Michael Stuhlbarg) “bones and all” line at the campfire during Lee’s death scene. Lee wants Maren to eat him, bones and all, an experience that Jake romanticized as something special. According to Jake, leaving a bare bones corpse counts as the first real experience as an eater, passing the stage of foreplay, and transitioning to a legitimate achievement that’s basically a badge of honor. 

Did Maren and Lee actually deserve a happy ending? Yeah, you could say they were young, two people with a strange condition doing what they had to do to survive, but that doesn’t erase the fact that they’re also murderers. The ending works as a full circle moment and karma coming to collect. Sully and Lee got what they deserved, while Maren is left to deal with the emotional and devastating aftermath alone.

Too many examples throughout the movie that clearly showed there’s no real happy ending for an eater. Maren was disgusted by Brad (David Gordon Green) and Jake’s joyous approach to cannibalism, especially Brad, who’s not an eater, but he still gets a kick out of the lifestyle. Sully and Lee were both predators. The big difference is, Lee was more of a cerebral tactician, manipulating his victim’s emotions before he attacked. And you can’t forget about Maren’s mother, Janelle. She’s alone, heavily medicated and deranged, living out the rest of her days in an institution.

So when you look at the big picture, Maren’s options are she can either spend the rest of her life running, hiding, or basically living off the grid. It’s a vicious cycle to literally feed her addiction. One problem after another, and not spending the rest of her life in prison or an institution is the best that Maren could hope for. I’m sure one of the reasons why Sully made Maren’s skin crawl is, she didn’t want to follow the same path during the later stages of her life: a monster, who was too enamored with the lifestyle, collecting locks of hair (including Kayla’s hair) from his victims. 

Bones And All is a bloody and brutal love story, with a grotesque horror twist. All of the storylines and themes seamlessly connected for a smooth style of storytelling, leading to a gut-wrenching finale. Bones And All shows how having an addiction can ruin your life, and how it affects those closest to you. A bleak and genuinely emotional film, featuring a superb cast, and a number of creepy and unsettling scenes. Jake chasing after Maren and Lee in the darkness, and the sight of a distributed Janelle, including her mangled arms, because she couldn’t control her cravings and ate her own hands are two of my top picks.

And maybe I’m looking too deep into this, but I do wonder if the little girl at the diner was an eater? Sully did say eaters can locate each other by picking up on a peculiar scent. The child seemingly gave Maren a knowing look, so I guess it’s a possibility, an intriguing what if, without any definitive clues or hints.

So much blood and graphic gore, but Bones And All ironically feels homely and nostalgic. Placing the story in the 1980’s helps, while Maren and Lee traveled along the quiet backroads, passing through all the small and quaint towns. 

Rating- 10/10

Coming Attractions- Love Lies Bleeding (2024)

 

Director- Rose Glass

Cast- Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Ed Harris, Jenna Malone, Anna Baryshinikov, Dave Franco

Release Date- March 8, 2024

Everything about this trailer for Love Lies Bleeding is just perfect. The music, the scenes with Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian together, and you can see there’s a strong possibility for Ed Harris to deliver a show stealing performance. 

Yeah, the trailer shows a lot, and maybe they gave away too much. But it’s still the kind of trailer that’ll get you pumped up for the movie. You get the feeling there’s not going to be a happy ending, and Kristen Stewart’s Lou has already chosen Katy O’ Brian’s Jackie over her own family. High expectations for Love Lies Bleeding, a presumably brutal and violent love story featuring top notch acting.

2013 End Of The Year Awards- Best Performance From A Leading Actress- Cate Blanchett- Blue Jasmine

                                     


**This post contains spoilers**

"Anxiety, nightmares and a nervous breakdown, there's only so many traumas a person can withstand until they take to the streets and start screaming."

Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) is a complex character. She's a pretentious and pompous high society snob with a snooty condescending attitude. At first, it's easy to look at Jasmine, and label her as an unlikeable character. But as the story unfolds, you see this broken and depressed woman, who's trying to find her place in the world again. After her husband Hal's (Alec Baldwin) death, a homeless Jasmine, relying on medication to push through the day, moves in with her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins) for help.

Woody Allen created another memorable character, but Cate Blanchett's marvelous performance breathes life into Jasmine. Should I feel sympathy for this lonely and delusional person? After all, we're talking about a woman, who suspected something fishy with Hal and his affairs, but it's heavy implied Jasmine turned a blind a eye, because she had all the money, the big houses, the fancy cars, and the luxurious jewelry. As long as Hal CONSTANTLY spoiled Jasmine, everything was okay.

But what happened when Hal announced his plans to divorce Jasmine? Jasmine completely snapped, and she revealed all of Hal's dirty secrets to the FBI. After Hal's arrest, he committed suicide in prison. On top of that, Jasmine encouraged Ginger and her ex-husband, Augie (Andrew Dice Clay) to trust Hal with their lottery winnings for a crooked investment. Of course, Hal and Ginger lost the lottery money, and Augie with a limited number of options in front of him, had to take a dead end job in Alaska. That's right. The botched lottery experiment was the deal breaker that ended Hal and Ginger's marriage.

That's why Cate Blanchett's extraordinary performance is brilliant. One minute, Blanchett is the overbearing sister, who scolds Ginger for her poor choice in men (Chili), and she could've saved her sister's failed marriage. But you'll see an emotional train wreck, who's desperate for a second chance during Jasmine's low points in the movie. Blanchett's performance sparks a thought-provoking dilemma for Jasmine's future, and I could feel some sympathy for Jasmine, when Danny (Jasmine's step son) turned his back on her during the final moments of the movie.

Cate Blanchett's impressive career is something to admire, and if you take the time to watch Blue Jasmine, you'll see why she earned the Oscar for Best Actress at the Academy Awards this year.


 

Upside Down (2013)

**This review contains spoilers**

In an alternate universe, Adam lives on a planet that shares dual gravity with another planet above. After losing  his biological parents in a devastating explosion caused by an oil refinery from the upper world, Adam spends time at an orphanage before living with his aunt.

Adam’s bottom planet houses the poor and starved half of the population, but the rich and healthy half of the population lives on the upper planet. TransWorld, a corporation that employs citizens from both planets, is the only connection between both worlds. TransWorld controls the economy between both worlds, and selling unaffordable electricity to the bottom planet is an important factor for maintaining  the separation between both planets.

Contact or intrusion between both worlds is strictly forbidden, and the Natural Law Police show no mercy towards defiance. Although, the citizens from the bottom planet CAN intrude into the upper world with the help of forbidden weights, or an illegal anti-gravity material, but this material has a short lifespan, and it burns quickly.

One day, a young Adam meets Eden at a boundary point on two mountains between both worlds. Adam builds a secret relationship with Eden, who lives in the upper world. As teenagers, Adam (Jim Sturgess) and Eden (Kirsten Dunst) continue their forbidden friendship, but an attack from a group of border patrolmen ends a routine meeting between the two. Adam tries to use a rope to return Eden to her world, but a border patrolmen shoots him in the arm, causing him to drop Eden. Eden crashes into the ground above, and she suffers a nasty head injury. Devastated, Adam returns home to see his aunt arrested by the Natural Law Police.

Ten years later, Adam is trying to finish a project that could change everything, a matter with pink bee pollen. Working through the kinks, Adam believes his new matter can withstand the gravitational pull from both worlds. But Adam needs more money and resources, so he decides to get a job at TransWorld. Although, Adam runs into an unexpected dilemma, when he spots Eden on a game show for the upper world. As a cover-up, Adam perfects his new matter into a beauty cream for TransWorld, but he can’t fight his desires to reunite with Eden. Adam is willing to risk everything to convince an amnesic Eden, while trying to outsmart his ruthless employers.

I don’t have any real complaints about the acting. Jim Sturgess and Kirsten Dunce provide two very solid performances, and Timothy Spall is decent enough as Bob (Adam‘s buddy at work). The cast is just fine, but the story….that’s a different problem.

Upside Down features grandiose set pieces, and extravagant, breathtaking scenery, but I can’t ignore Juan Diego Solanas’ shallow and predictable love story. You can see every twist and turn coming during Adam’s journey to recapture Eden’s heart. The love story slowly goes through the motions, and Eden’s sudden remembrance of her relatinoship with Adam raises too many “how is that possible?” questions. Seriously, Eden’s just laying around in her apartment, she has a random dream about her childhood with Adam, and then BAM! She instantly falls in love with him again? Initially, Solanas took his time building the reconnection between Adam and Eden, and establishing the two main characters as adults. But the ending was rushed and underdeveloped, and I just couldn’t buy into Eden’s miraculous recollection of the past.

Juan Diego Solanas’ weak screenplay is very disappointing, but I enjoyed his directing. Take a good look at the movie poster I posted above, because that’s what you’ll see for 90% of this film. Adjusting to Upside Down’s topsy-turvy landscape takes some time. In fact, you might experience feelings of nausea during the first fifteen or twenty minutes, but Solanas’ steady guidance really pulls everything together. Behind the camera, Solanas stays true to the story’s gravitational rules. When Jim sneaks into the upper world for the first time, he pees on the ceiling of a bathroom, as his anti-gravity material burns. And you’ll see a few inverted scenes, as Solanas shows both points of view from both worlds.

Upside Down is a frustrating film. A unique premise is squandered, because stunning visuals, and awe-inspiring backdrops can’t cover up the “been there, done that” storyline between Adam and Eden. Also, the obvious plot holes (mainly the big ones towards the end) constantly straggle into a giant mess, as the story progresses. It’s so irritating, because Upside Down could’ve been a great movie, but an average love story destroys any chances for supremacy.

Upside Down was released in 2012 for Russian and Canadian audiences. Upside Down should receive a US theatrical release date in March, and if I can find any showings near me, I might watch Upside Down on the big screen. The big screen won’t help the quality of this film, but I’m expecting a more extravagant experience from a theater showing. The big screen should enhance Upside Down’s visual wonderland, and it won’t happen, but Upside Down would be an ideal candidate for an IMAX release.

Final Rating: 3/10

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

After witnessing his wife, Nikki (Bree Bee) in the shower with another man, Pat (Bradley Cooper) snaps, and he nearly beats Nikki’s lover to death. Diagnosed with a bipolar disorder,  Pat serves an eight month court ordered sentence in a mental hospital. Pat develops a friendship with another patient named Danny (Chris Tucker), but Nikki has a restraining order against Pat, and Pat will have to readjust to the real world soon enough. When she arrives to take him home, Pat’s mother, Dolores (Jacki Weaver) has her doubts, but Pat promises change. Pat’s father, Pat, Sr. (Robert De Niro) is a devoted and passionate Eagles’ fan, and he tries to make up for some lost time with Pat.

Delusional and determined to reinvent himself, Pat tries to straighten out his life, but an unhinged widow disrupts Pat’s mission to win back his ex-wife. Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) agrees to deliver Pat’s apology letter to Nikki, but only under two conditions: Pat must train with Tiffany, and become her partner for a dance contest.

I didn’t think he had it in him, but Bradley Cooper delivers a fantastic performance here. Pat is a trainwreck, but you can still root for him. Cooper is usually more successful with full blown comedy characters, and Pat has a quirky sense of humor, but Cooper really nails the emotional and heartbroken side of  Pat‘s character. Jennifer Lawrence is spot on as Tiffany. Tiffany is a free spirit, but she’ll fly off the handle in an instant, if someone pushes her too far. De Niro and Weaver are solid in their supporting roles, but Chris Tucker really didn’t add anything to this film, and his character is pretty useless.

Silver Linings Playbook isn’t bad, but I honestly can’t understand the raging hard-ons critics have for this film. Yes, Silver Linings Playbook provides a nice balance of drama and humor. Plus, the delicate and sensitive approach towards the subject of mental illnesses is something to admire. But let’s not kid ourselves here. Silver Linings Playbook isn’t some groundbreaking achievement for the romantic comedy genre. No, it’s barley above average, and you can see every “twist” and “turn” coming from a mile away. Seriously, just watch the trailer, and take a wild guess at happens between Pat and Tiffany at the very end.

Maybe I’m just a grouch, or I’m still waiting for the holiday spirit to hit me, but Silver Linings Playbook didn’t blow me away. Cooper or Lawrence might receive an Oscar nomination, but in a few weeks, I’ll forget about this film, and Silver Linings Playbook won’t have any lasting effects on me.

Final Rating: 6/10

Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World (2012)

**This review contains spoilers**

A deadly asteroid named Matilda will destroy Earth in three weeks, and Dodge’s (Steve Carell) wife, Linda (Nancy Carell) suddenly abandons him without giving an explanation. Dodge tries to find some peace at a friend’s party, but after a few failed and forced attempts for a one-night stand, Dodge decides to spend his final days on Earth alone.

One night, Dodge tries to commit suicide by drinking cough syrup and window cleaner, but Dodge is still alive the next morning, and he becomes the owner of a stranger’s dog. Disappointed and looking for an escape, Dodge teams up with his neighbor, Penny (Keria Knightley). Dodge agrees to help Penny fly to England, so she can see her family one last time, and Penny will help Dodge find Olivia (an ex-girlfriend). Will Penny and Dodge find closure before Matilda destroys Earth?

Steve Carell delivers another enjoyable performance as the quirky and up-tight nerd, and Keria Knightley is solid as the free spirit, who will do anything to see her parents one last time. Martin Sheen has a brief appearance towards the end. He plays Dodge’s father, but  as far as Sheen’s performance goes, there’s nothing worth mentioning, because his screen time is regulated to cameo status.

Lorene Scafaria wrote the screenplay, and she makes her directorial debut here. Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World starts out as a whacky comedy about two people, who are looking for closure before Earth is destroyed by an asteroid. But everything slowly evolves into an emotional love story between Penny and Dodge.

A lot of critics and movie fans complained about the tonal shifts. I didn’t have a problem with the tonal shifts, because you have to remember, the world is coming to an end. Witnessing the sadness and dread from the main cast of characters didn’t irritate me, because earlier on, they enjoyed their final moments of life. But as time ran out, they realized it was all over.

All in all, the main cast of characters didn’t waste any time. They partied, had fun, and they the cherished their precious time with loved ones. But as Matilda drew closer, they finally realized the devastation of their inevitable doom. There was no escape, so the transition from a lighthearted comedy to an emotional finale makes perfect sense.

Also, the “disappointing ending” caused a lot of complaints. Dodge puts Penny on a plane with his father, so she can see her family one last time. But Dodge puts Penny on the plane, while she’s asleep, so Penny won’t have a chance to refuse the offer. At this point of the story, Penny and Dodge have already fallen in love after deciding to finally let go of their pasts. Anyway, Dodge returns to his apartment complex to die alone, but guess, who shows up? Penny! It was kind of predictable, but Penny shows up, because she decides to spend her final minutes on Earth with Dodge.

So they’re laying in bed together, and Matilda finally hits Earth. You can hear loud explosions in the background, and Penny starts to cry, as she begs Dodge to keep her awake (apparently, Penny has narcolepsy). Penny continues to cry, Evan keeps talking, the world is starting to crumble…… and then the screen fades to white to end the movie. 

This might sound like a disappointing ending, but I just have one question for all the people, who complained: what else were you expecting? Fiery Michael Bay style explosions? Or did you want to see an ending, where Dodge and Penny kiss each other one last time, as melting corpses with a dramatic score in the background, and more explosions? Dodge and Penny had a chance to say their good-byes to each other, and then it’s over. I didn’t need to see a series of fiery explosions, and Penny screaming in the ruins of Earth. No, Scafaria pulls the plug at the right moment, providing a gentle and heartbreaking conclusion.

Carell and Knightley share some excellent chemistry, as two very likeable main characters, and I enjoyed most of the humor in this film. It’s not perfect, but Seeking A friend For The End Of The World is one of the better apocalyptic films I’ve seen this year.

Final Rating: 8/10